ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH AT KARACHI

Criminal Bail Application No.36 of 2025

DATE

ORDER WITH SIGNATUREs OF JUDGEs

 

For hearing of bail application

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02.05.2025

           

            Mr. Abbas Ali Sahar, advocate for applicant

            Ms. Seema Zaidi, Additional Prosecutor General Sindh

            DSP Aamri Gul, SDPO Manghopir Sub-Division

            IO/SIP Chaudhry Naveed Bakhtawar of PS Peerabad

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Shamsuddin Abbasi, J.—Applicant Awais Bukhari son of Syed Shafqat Bukhari seeks pre-arrest bail in FIR No.46/2023, registered at P.S. Peerabad, Karachi for offence under Section 496-A, PPC, after rejection of his bail plea by learned Additional Sessions Judge-X, Karachi West vide order dated 19.12.2024.

 

2.         Brief facts of the case are that during investigation, police found that SIM Card of alleged abductee was being used in mobile phone of applicant, although, complainant has alleged that initially SIM number of alleged abductee was switched off but later on the same was being used in the mobile of applicant. Such digital collection of data by police prima facie connects the accused with the commission of instant offence, hence the subject FIR.

 

3.         Learned counsel for applicant submits that applicant is not nominated in FIR and only evidence collected against him by police is recovery of a mobile phone used by alleged abductee. On the last date of hearing, SSP Investigation West Karachi appeared in Court and transferred the investigation of this case to SIP Chaudhry Naveed Bakhtawar of PS Peerabad, who is present in Court today and submits that he has recommended the case for disposal in “A” class and he found the applicant as innocent.

 

4.         Learned Additional Prosecutor General Sindh has opposed for grant of bail on the ground that mobile phone of alleged abductee has been recovered by police from his possession.

 

5.         Heard learned counsel for applicant as well as learned Additional Prosecutor General Sindh and perused the material available on record.

 

6.         From tentative assessment of material available on record it appears that applicant is not nominated in FIR, the only evidence collected against him by police during investigation is recovery of mobile phone used by alleged abductee from his possession and the plea taken by the applicant is that he purchased the mobile from the market. Present IO found him innocent and has recommended the case for disposal in “A” class. Therefore, the case of applicant requires further inquiry in terms of Section 497(2), Cr.PC, as such, interim pre-arrest granted to applicant above named by this Court vide order dated 07.01.2025 is hereby confirmed on the same terms and conditions.

 

7.         Instant criminal bail applications are disposed of in the above terms.

 

J U D G E

 

Gulsher/PS